Skip to content
ArchFoundry Docs Open the canvas

Use your own AI key for Archie

Updated October 19, 2026Plans: Free, Pro, Enterprise

Overview

Archie runs on ArchFoundry's hosted model unless your organization gives it its own key. With your own Anthropic, OpenAI or OpenRouter key, Archie answers with your provider and the model you choose, the usage is billed to your provider account, and the hosted daily allowance no longer applies. The key applies to everyone in the organization.

Prerequisites

  • An owner or admin role in your ArchFoundry organization.
  • An API key from Anthropic, OpenAI or OpenRouter.

Steps

  1. In the workspace sidebar, click Settings, then the Archie tab. Which model answers says whether Archie uses the hosted model or your key.
  2. Under Provider, choose Anthropic, OpenAI or OpenRouter. To make a key, click the Create a key on link for that provider.
  3. Paste the key under API key.
  4. Under Model, type a model name, or leave it empty for the default shown in the field.
  5. Click Verify and save. ArchFoundry first makes a free lookup with the provider, so nothing is saved that cannot answer.

Example

Keys from each provider start like this. The form refuses one that does not answer:

text
Anthropic     sk-ant-...
OpenAI        sk-proj-...
OpenRouter    sk-or-v1-...

Expected result: a message says Archie now answers with your key, and Which model answers names your provider.

Verify it worked

  • The Archie tab reads that Archie answers with your organization's key, and shows only the key's last four characters.
  • Asking Archie something on the canvas works as before, now billed to your provider.

Troubleshooting

Paste an API key to continue. The API key field is empty.

Only an owner or admin of your organization can change this. Ask an owner or admin to add the key.

Archie says the copilot rate limit is reached. A per-minute limit applies with any key. Try again in a minute.

Archie says your organization's daily budget is used up. That allowance applies only to the hosted model, and resets at midnight UTC. Adding your own key removes it.

Removing the key. Click Remove. Archie goes back to the hosted model. Removing deletes the sealed copy in ArchFoundry. Revoking the key at your provider is stronger.

What goes to your provider. Archie's questions, with the diagram's card names and types, go to the provider you pick, under your account's terms. The key itself is sealed on the server, never kept in your browser and never sent back.

Next steps